RTÉ urged to spin off symphony orchestra

Nathalie Stutzmann is the principal guest conductor for National Symphony Orchestra, which could be separated from RTÉMONIKA CHMIELARZ

The RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra should be established as an independent body or as part of the National Concert Hall, an independent review has found.

The review was carried out by Helen Boaden, former director of BBC Radio and of BBC News. It recommended that the station’s second orchestra, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, should remain within RTÉ.

Ms Boaden suggested that neither of the station’s orchestras should be closed, but that they should both be brought up to “full strength” and that the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra should be established as a cultural institution in its own right or as part of the National Concert Hall and funded by government.

The review said that RTÉ’s orchestras were the only full-time, full-size professional orchestras in Ireland,…

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